Issue 2 2021

20 Acquisition International - Issue 2 2021 Nov20783 Masterful Practice in the Field of Law Words by Enrico Di Fiorino. Enrico is a partner at Fornari e Associati, a law firm specialising in corporate criminal law, with offices in Milan and Rome. have been developing my skills and talent for several years now, with an emphasis on gaining the trust of my clients and other members of the legal profession. My aim has always been to prove useful, at times even indispensable, via the acquisition and subsequent use of tailored competences. To this end, I have always believed that practice is as important as formation, which means that legal studies were only the beginning for me. Furthermore, it is pivotal to keep in mind that, no matter how many years pass, the professional path cannot lose steam: as in a race, once you stop or slow down, you will be inevitably overtaken. In general, the legal profession must continue to meet the challenges of the future and the modern world.” Enrico, after having completed his studies at the University of Pisa, earned a Master’s degree with honours in Corporate Criminal Law from the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome and a Master of Laws in Corporate and Insolvency Law from Nottingham Trent University. Moreover, he attended and completed the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme, developed by Said Business School of the University of Oxford. It is critical – according to Di Fiorino – to have broad insight into the game. We live in an age of multitasking. Now, in order to be a good lawyer and progress in your career, you need to think like an entrepreneur. You need to develop your own ideas, and -on the basis of those- construct a plan that correlates with other professionals, pleases clients and creates a certain level of enthusiasm. It is more than just the law, it is about providing a service which meets, and in some cases even anticipates, the client’s needs. “My most recent project is the publication of a book, edited alongside a notorious Public Prosecutor in the Italian legal system, centering on the Surveillance Body within the vicarious criminal liability of companies. This work involved several scholars and professionals, who worked in synergy during the very challenging onset of the pandemic and specifically the first lockdown.” Enrico’s standard of client care, attention to detail and disciplined work ethic has led him to win several awards. In 2018 he won the LOY award, which recognises excellence in the Italian banking and financial sector, for the rising star lawyer of the year, with the following justification given: “For having become a partner of the Fornari e Associati law firm in 2017, immediately playing a role in some of the most important criminal proceedings in the country and demonstrating, in the eyes of the market, negotiating skills and the ability to find effective solutions, characteristics which have made him a rising star in the Italian economic criminal law sector”. “I “It was a great honour for our law firm to recently receive the award as best criminal law team in the “under 40 years of age” Legal community Awards, stating: “Guided by partner Enrico Di Fiorino, the team, a strong presence in the under 40s, is able to provide a high-level of assistance in all specific areas of the criminal law.” This award is also the culmination of the wider vision of founding partner Giuseppe Fornari, ever-convinced that innovation and energy are the keys to truly providing a service with added value.” “In providing assistance in the corporate world daily, I have become aware of how much the criminal law – and the threat of a sanction – can strongly influence a corporation’s behaviour. And the criminal law often fails to coincide with the demands of the business world. The object therefore needs to be, from the outset, to render concept simple and clear.” Even a complex discipline like the criminal law must be made simple. When speaking about tomorrow’s lawyers and what will be asked of them, Di Fiorino highlights two issues: “Firstly, in some degree, this is less about a futuristic view and actually already relevant. After all, this unprecedented pandemic has accelerated changes that were already in progress, for example in relation to the augmented use of technology in the legal system, to render it more efficient and accessible to all. Secondly, we must keep in mind that change and consequent innovation affects the entire profession, and no lawyer can truly be exempt from this challenge.” “If I was to categorize the essential skills for today and tomorrow’s lawyer, I would focus on: i) commercial awareness, certainly, because possessing knowledge of current developments in local, national and world business is imperative. ii) creative problem solving, considering that the best course of action isn’t always the easiest or the most obvious. iii) accuracy, that is pivotal to the success of your legal career. A single word out of place can change a meaning. iv) information analysis, because today more than ever we have an enormous amount of information at our fingertips. Therefore, the real game-changer is our ability to analyse, elaborate and very often simplify this enormous stream of data. v) And, last but not least, self-confidence. The legal field is challenging and definitely not for everyone. It is a long and arduous path which – in my opinion – must be followed with determination and enthusiasm, in order to stand out.”